IN this next picture Tom is using a wood froe to split the quarter. There is not way to describe this process. It is physical and one must learn to split the wood with the grain for a clean even split. In front of Tom is the "Shave Horse" which is a must for white oak basket making.

With a piece of leather to prevent cutting yourself ,
Tom begins the long process of hand scraping each splint. 

This makes it smooth and finished for the refined baskets he and Connie create.

The final picture is of Tom McColley taking the hickory bark off the tree. After the tree is cut down a draw knife  is used to remove the outer bark. What you see in this picture is Tom removing the inner bark of the hickory which is used for the baskets and bottoms for chairs and stools. 

Hickory baskets sell for more because they are so labor intensive.

Tom and Connie McColley's basket studio. 

A variety of white oak and bark baskets at different stages of production. 

Most of them are their baskets and some are baskets they have collected from other basket makers...

(One of mine is in there ) 

I learned from the best for sure. Though I could NEVER profess to be the quality basket makers they are, I have learned a few things I'm proud of.